Western Movie Primer

Another month means another genre primer. This month is the Western genre. The Western genre was a huge genre back in the 50s and 60s with icons like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, James Stuart, and Gary Cooper. The prevalence has lessened significantly today, but you will still get the occasional Western, most likely from Kevin Costner. On a more personal note, the Western was my grandpa's favorite genre. Every time I would go over to his house, if it wasn't a football game, it was usually some sort of 1950s or 60s Western on the TV. So, doing this post just makes me think of him. So, without further ado, here is the Western Movie Primer.

1. Stagecoach (1939)

Stagecoach is an early Western but is still one of the first movies to revitalize the genre and elevate it to a more sophisticated level. Up to this point, Westerns were more regulated to B-movie status, but Stagecoach showed that a Western could showcase a more complex story than your typical good vs evil. The movie was also crucial in instituting staples to the genre, such as the use of Monument Valley as an iconic backdrop, as well as stagecoach chases and shootouts in the climax, which made it a huge influence on other films. The movie was also a breakout role for John Wayne, causing him to catapult to stardom and become the iconic star that he is known for today.

2. High Noon (1952)

High Noon is a key Gary Cooper film and is known for its innovative approach to the Western genre. Up to this point, most Westerns told more of a traditional heroic narrative. High Noon changed the game by being a bit more complex and being about a man's courage as he is alone in the face of danger. High Noon is often cited as a "revisionist western" as it shows a more realistic and morally ambiguous view of the West. The film was highly controversial in its time, as people like John Wayne didn't like the departure from the typical heroic view of western lawmen. This movie was also innovative in its suspense and use of "real time" storytelling that influenced countless films, such as those dealing with deadlines or high-stakes situations. High Noon was also one of the first Westerns to feature strong female characters who helped challenge gender roles in film.

3. The Searchers (1956)

The Searchers is another John Wayne film and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Westerns ever made. Similar to High Noon, The Searchers is a break from the traditional heroic good guy by featuring a deeply flawed anti-hero with more complex motivations and morality. The film also tackles complex topics such as racism and the impact of American history on Native Americans. The Searchers is also largely known for its innovative cinematography and visual storytelling, influencing countless filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese. The movie's visual style, with its desert landscapes, was also a heavy influence on movies like Star Wars.

4. The Magnificent Seven (1960)

The Magnificent Seven is one of the last classic Westerns before the genre transitioned to the style of Spaghetti Westerns, with a focus on outlaws instead of lawmen. The movie is one of the most popular adaptations of the Seven Samurai and brought the story into Hollywood Culture as a classic story formula that still influences many movies and TV shows today. The movie was also huge for its large cast of actors, such as Steven McQueen and Charles Bronson. The Magnificent Seven also has one of the most iconic movie scores of all time, with a theme that is still well-known in culture today.

5. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly was the big movie that made the Spaghetti Western subgenre more mainstream. Up to this point, Westerns were more focused on good vs evil and lawmen defending the town type of stories. Spaghetti Westerns brought a distinct visual style and gritty realism to the genre. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, along with the Spaghetti Western in general, was also a huge influence on later filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. This movie is also a team-up of another iconic Western duo with Sergio Leonie and Clint Eastwood. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly also brought a more epic feel to the genre with huge set pieces and epic battles. Like the Magnificent Seven, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly also features an iconic score that is still referenced quite often today.

6. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of the first big Western genre blenders. This movie is a revisionist take on the genre as it blends together action, comedy, and a little romance. The movie is the first to popularize the "buddy movie" dynamic, a subgenre of film that is used in countless movies today. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid also featured big name actors of the time, Robert Redford and Paul Newman, as their big presence in the Western genre. The movie was also a box office hit and received numerous awards, and helped push the Western genre into a new direction as it entered the 1970s. The movie is also featured on multiple lists of the best movies of all time.

7. Dances with Wolves (1990)

Dances with Wolves is the film that revitalized the Western genre coming into the 1990s after a bit of a lull in the 1970s and 80s, sparking a wave of successful films in the following years. The film is groundbreaking in its portrayal of Native Americans, portraying them as more culturally accurate and as more complex individuals as opposed to the stereotypical "Wooden Indian". In today's culture, the portrayal may still seem a bit offensive, but for the time, it was a significant step up and helped move things in a better direction. It is often cited as an inspiration for other films with Native Americans as a baseline for how to portray their culture accurately and respectfully. Dances with Wolves was also a big career bump for Kevin Costner, as it won both Best Picture and Best Director and cemented him as the Western icon he is known for today.

8. Unforgiven (1992)

Unforgiven is widely regarded as Clint Eastwood's definitive statement of the Western genre. Unforgiven is one of the first big films to be a deconstruction of the Western genre. It subverts many classic Western tropes of the 50s and 60s, as well as questions the glorification of violence and the idea of the heroic gunslinger. This movie also paved the way for many revisionist Westerns to come, like Tombstone and Hostiles. Much like Dances with Wolves, Unforgiven also received a lot of critical acclaim and awards, winning Clint Eastwood Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. Unforgiven also set the standard for a more modern Western. The movie is also regarded by many as a masterpiece and one of the greatest Westerns ever made.

9. Tombstone (1993)

Tombstone was another film of the 90s that was key in reigniting interest in the genre. The movie basically brings back the classic Western genre to a new generation with its inclusion of classic tropes such as lawmen vs outlaws, saloon showdowns, and gunfights. The film also has some very iconic characters of the Western genre with Kurt Russel as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday, as well as some very quotable lines such as "I'm Your Huckleberry". The movie also caused a surge of tourism for Tombstone, Arizona. While it didn't receive much acclaim when it was first released, over time it has become more and more popular to the point where it has earned a spot as a classic Western.

10. No Country for Old Men (2007)

No Country for Old Men is the only 21st-century movie on this primer. This is also one of the first well-known movies to establish the idea of a modern Western. While the rest of the movies on this list all take place in the Old West, this movie takes place in the 1980s. Instead of having the classic tropes such as saloons and carriage fights, this movie brings a modern aesthetic. The movie also brings the crime genre into the Western atmosphere, creating a more noir-western type of story. This movie's success also created more opportunities for indie filmmakers and helped launch the career of The Coen Brothers. This is also one of the four Westerns to ever win Best Picture (two of the others are also on this list). No Country for Old Men may not be a traditional Western, but it does help bring the Western genre into the 21st century and helps pave the way for other modern-day Westerns.